Dirt Dogs Theatre Co. (DDTCo.) is excited to open its 2022-2023 season by exploring the disturbing question: Can one be innocent though proven guilty? In Coyote on a Fence, Illiterate yet affable, Bobby Reyburn loves to do impressions and watch soap operas. He’s also a member of the Aryan nation sitting on death row, convicted of an unimaginable hate crime. John Brennan is an articulate, well-educated convict and editor of the prison newspaper, The Death Row Advocate.
Following executions, John publishes obituaries that tell the stories of the executed but never mentions the crimes committed. John’s writing draws national attention and the interest of a journalist who wants to do a story about him. As each awaits his final fate under the watchful eye of their female guard, they confront, comfort, and change each other.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Bruce Graham is a playwright, actor and co-author of the book, The Collaborative Playwright. A Practical Guide to Getting Your Play Written. Graham began his career as a playwright at the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays in 1984 with Burkie. There he became playwright-in-residence and later served two years as Artistic Director. He has received grants from the Pew Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and was a past winner of the Princess Grace Foundation Statuette. He won the Rosenthal Prize for Coyote on a Fence, two Barrymore Awards for Something Intangible and Any Given Monday, and the Joseph Jefferson Award for The Outgoing Tide.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Malinda L. Beckham, artistic director for Dirt Dogs Theatre Co., takes the helm as director of Coyote on a Fence while also serving as costume designer. Beckham directed A Steady Rain (in 2016 and 2022), The Boundary (world premiere), Glengarry Glen Ross, The Exonerated, the streaming production of Twilight:
Los Angeles, 1992, and co-directed A Lie of the Mind. On mounting this production, Beckham says, “I became familiar with playwright, Bruce Graham, when we staged the 2019 production White Guy on the Bus. His writing style and storytelling structure allows us to ask tough questions and open conversations through art. The cast has taken on this provocative material with both zeal and delicacy.”
Rounding out the creative and production team are Mark Lewis on lighting design, John Baker as production manager, Trevor B. Cone on sound design, Santiago Sepeda on scenic design, Barbara Alicea-Aponte as production stage manager, and Addison Antonoff as assistant stage manager.
DETAILS
CALENDAR LISTING
Theatre/Performing Arts
WHATCoyote on a Fence
WHO
Written by Bruce Graham
Directed by Malinda L. Beckham
Featuring
Role
Actor
(ZIP)
Previous DDTCo. credits
Shawna DuChamps Destyne Renee Milller
(77489)
Dirt Dogs debut
John Brennan
Jimmy Vollman (77584)
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Comet), Twilight:
Los Angeles, 1992 (Shelby Coffey, III) and The
Exonerated (Rhodes/Ensemble)
Bobby Reyburn
Kyle Clark
(77021)
Dirt Dogs debut
Curtis Barber
Sam Fried
(77469)
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Cupid) and
Talk Radio (Bernie/Ensemble)
WHEN
Oct 21–Nov 5, 2022
PERFORMANCES
Opening night
Friday, Oct 21, 2022
Evenings
8pm
| Fridays & Saturdays, Oct 21, 22, 28 & 29, Nov 4 & 5
7:30pm | Thursdays Oct 27 & Nov 3
7:30pm | Monday, Oct 31
Matinees
2pm | Sundays, Oct 23 & 30
Talk back (with director and cast)
Thursdays, Oct 27 & Nov 3 | after the performance
Approximate run time
100 minutes (no intermission)
WHERE
MATCH – Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
Matchbox 3, The John P. McGovern Foundation Theater, 3400 Main St., Houston, TX 77002
BOX OFFICE
713.521.4533 | https://matchouston.org/events/2022/coyote-fence
TICKETS
Single tickets, $30
Matinees and Industry Mondays are “Pay What You Can”
Season Subscriptions available until Oct 21.